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Authors: Dale Mayer

Tags: #Mystery, #Suspense

Eyes to the Soul (29 page)

BOOK: Eyes to the Soul
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She dropped her head against his chest, then lifted it to stare up at him. “Yes. I just hope he’s going to be okay. That was scary.”

“Maybe, but it was also very helpful in that we now have a lead to follow in that fatal crash and Jacob is back where he belongs.”

Before leaving the hospital Celina took a moment to use the washroom, and Stefan took advantage of the privacy to contact Brandt. Quickly he relayed Jacob’s words and association to the driver that had crashed into Chico’s.
We need to find that cell phone. Jacob said he’d sent the text a few moments before the crash.

“Which could be nothing more than a man telling his friend he’s going to be late.” Brandt groaned. “Why couldn’t he have told us why Dugar wanted to meet Celina?”

True. It could be just that he wanted his best friends to meet. And it could be something else altogether.

Stefan smiled as people walked past him down the hallway.
For that we need Jacob to regain consciousness. In the meantime, check his phone for the messages between him and Dugar. It’s probably here at the hospital. Or at the restaurant still.

“I hope not. Chico’s is a still a mess.”

Maybe, but it’s habit to put a cell phone away immediately. Consider that he wrote the message in Celina’s bathroom – that’s not the action of a man who doesn’t care.

“Yeah, see, I don’t get that,” Brandt said.

No, but he did it regardless of what we understand. That phone has to be important. He was at a crowded bar, standing around laughing and drinking. There’s only so much space to put down a valuable item like that and not lose it.

The words had barely left his mouth when the hospital hallway ripped away like a curtain torn back over his mind and he could see a vision of the bar full of laughter and drinking. High-spirited calls back and forth and there, Jacob in the center. A drink in his hand and nothing else. He lifted his glass and called out, “A toast! To one of the most talented groups of people–”

“Stefan?” Celina called out, her hand rubbing his forearm. “Are you alright?”

With a jolt he brought himself back to his surroundings. Closing his eyes, he worked to ease back the edges of his control and calm his breathing. He took a shuddering breath and managed to murmur, “I’m fine. Just lost in thought. Are you ready to leave?”

At her nod he covered her hand with his and led her out the doorway. As he walked through the double doors out into the sunshine, he sent Brandt a strong telepathic message.
Find that damn phone. We need it.

*

Brandt got the
message the first time; he hadn’t needed it slammed into his subconscious again. But Stefan was used to giving orders and having them followed. Brandt checked the report to see what items had been logged in from the crash site. Several phones, the numbers identified, and not one was registered to Jacob. He called the hospital.

There was a bag with personal items that he came in with. Yes, there was a phone there, but it had no identification on it. Brandt hung up, checked his watch, and realized he had twenty minutes to run up and check to see if it was the right cell phone and what, if anything, was on it that mattered so much.

Chapter 21

O
ut of the
hospital, Stefan at her side, the sunshine on her face, Celina realized how different life was from even just a week ago.

Stefan drove competently, as always. She couldn’t see his hands or the look of focus on his face but she heard the engine purr under his sure touch and roar forward at his command. She doubted there was much he didn’t do well. She’d gone to school with several people who just surpassed everyone naturally in a particular skill or subject. There’d been one girl in the final year who’d thought nothing of reupholstering her own furniture as a weekend project. And then did it. She’d done an incredible job.

Trusting that Stefan would take her to the next place safely, she relaxed into her seat, her mind remembering Jacob and their visit. How terrible that Jacob’s love was the man who’d caused the accident. She couldn’t help feeling a little guilty. He’d been coming to meet her. She hadn’t known, of course, but still… She turned to Stefan. “Is Jacob really going to be okay now?”

“I don’t know for sure, but he did sink back into his body. I’m thinking that is a good thing.”

Such a weird concept. “It sounds bizarre.”

“Only because it’s new,” he said. “Most people leave their bodies while they sleep.”

Not something, she wanted to consider. “I don’t think I ever have.”

“You have.” He grinned. “But like most people you don’t remember the trips you’ve taken.”

“You spoke to me in my dream once, didn’t you?”

He glanced her way. “Yes. I wasn’t sure you realized that was me.”

“I didn’t at the time because it didn’t seem real.” She leaned back and closed her eyes thinking about that dream. “It was real though, wasn’t it?”

“Yes.”

“Why did you do that?” she asked, needing to understand.

“You were having a bad nightmare. I was trying to show you how to change that to a nicer dream.”

“Something about thoughts creating the atmosphere in there.”

He hesitated.

Curious, she asked, “Now what?”

“It’s not just in there. Our thoughts can affect the atmosphere everywhere. Everything is energy and with a little tweaking, everything can be made so much better.”

“But only in our own space, right?” She frowned as she considered that information. Most people would love to make their own spaces easier to live in. If one had a tense day, being able to make it happy and peaceful would be lovely. Then she realized that Stefan hadn’t answered her. “Are you saying people can affect the space around other people?”

“I did in your dream.”

She wrinkled her nose at him. “And if you could do that, then presumably you can do so much more.”

“Of course.” But he didn’t elaborate.

The engine shifted and slowed as he took a right turn, then another, and followed that with a left turn. He parked and turned off the engine.

“Where are we?”

“At the children’s hospital.”

Right. She’d forgotten about that. She exited the vehicle and as always, he was there beside her. Holding her hand as they walked across the parking lot. She could feel light raindrops hitting her face. The country needed the rain, but it wasn’t what she’d have chosen. A light chill had settled into the air too. She tugged her sweater closer.

He responded instantly by wrapping an arm around her shoulders and tucking her up close to his chest. The man radiated heat. Waves rolled off his chest even though he appeared to be wearing a cotton shirt.

“One step up.” He waited for her to step up then led her through large doors. Instantly the warmth from inside the hospital enveloped her. She smiled appreciatively. They turned to the left and kept walking.

“Stairs or elevators?” he asked. Only a bell signaled the opening of an elevator. At that moment several people brushed past her in a cloud of perfume and aftershave. And smoke. She hated the smell of smoke. At least most places were smoke-free, but the scent always took her back to her childhood. Her father and her best friend’s father had smoked, often together. She’d hated the smell then and that hadn’t improved. She stepped into the elevator, content to have him pick the floor.

At the seventh floor the doors slid open and she was enveloped in sensations she could barely recognize. It felt better than downstairs, and that had been good.

He led her into the ward. She first noticed the smell – it had a sterile cleanliness to it while missing the antiseptic bite. And the noises. Muted. Calm. Quiet. There were no voices. No laughing or crying. Hadn’t Stefan said this was a children’s ward? She couldn’t remember ever having been in one, but this didn’t seem quite right.

No one approached them or spoke to them as they walked. She wondered if that was unusual. Stefan wasn’t a doctor. How did he have the ability to come and go in a place like this?

He slowed at another door and took a moment to do something. Head tilted, she concentrated on sorting out all of the odd noises then smiled. A card reader security system. She waited as the door clicked open and they proceeded down the hallway a little farther.

The farther they got into the new space the warmer, lighter, and softer the energy. She tried to describe it, but found it difficult considering it was really unique. It was akin to the sensation she felt taking a long, hot soak in the tub after a long day. That sense of relief, of joy, of peace as she slipped into the water. The sensation of
ahhh
as she sank into the tub and relaxed. She didn’t know what to think about feeling a similar thing here. Obviously it was deliberate, if she considered his comment about creating the atmosphere one wanted. It did feel good. Special.

They were such inadequate words.

As they continued to walk she could visualize the hallway from other hospitals she’d seen before she lost her vision and realized there were likely wards on either side of her. Muted noises could be heard at certain spots, letting her know they were passing various rooms. Stefan stopped, and again the card swipe. Interesting.

He opened the door and ushered her in.

Instantly laughter and shrieks raced toward her. Happy sounds that made her heart light and brought a smile to her face. She loved it here already.

“Stefan!” Children screamed, laughed, and clamored in every way they could.

Celina laughed. “I can’t see what’s happening, but it sounds like a herd is racing toward us.”

“You’re seeing just fine, as that is ex – oomph.” Stefan laughed and laughed. Celina stood in one place and let the horseplay happen. Children screamed.

“Me next.”

“No – me next.”

Stefan’s laughter rolled all around her. Waves of joy, ripples of fun, invigorating energy bounced off her and around her to join the melee.

In the background she heard adult voices calling for order. Calling the children to return to their beds.

“Children, calm down. Let Stefan walk in.”

“Aww, I didn’t get a turn.” Then the same voice squealed in joy, the tenor changing as he must have been lifted high in Stefan’s arms.

Bemused and heartened by the children’s responses, Celina didn’t dare walk forward in case there were littler children underfoot. She’d hate to hurt a child. Waiting in place, she listened to the goings-on around her.

Just when she thought to clear her voice and call for Stefan, a small hand slipped into hers. She gasped softly then whispered, “Hello.”

A young male answered. “Hello. Would you like to come and sit down?”

“Yes, I would.” She squeezed the little hand. “Can you take me to a place where I won’t be in the way?”

Her arm was lifted and she was led forward. Not knowing what else to do, she followed the little person. “What’s your name?”

“David.”

Ah, maybe this was the little boy Stefan had come to see.

“Here.” Her hand was placed on the back of a chair, a little clumsy, but she appreciated the gesture. Taking her seat, she hoped to keep the boy with her. “I guess Stefan is a popular visitor.”

“Stefan is the greatest.” The little voice was so serious, so firm in that statement, there was no denying the truth in his voice.

“Does he come here often?”

“No,” he said. “We offered him a bed but he says he can’t stay here.”

The plaintive tone made her giggle. “I think he has a big house to sleep in on his own.”

“Then we should go to his house,” David piped up. “I bet it’s awesome. Maybe he has a playground too.”

“I don’t know what he has,” Celina said with laughter in her voice. “I’m supposed to go there after this visit. Maybe I’ll be lucky. Maybe he’ll have a playground big enough for me.”

“That would be awesome!”

Then her host disappeared, running in the opposite direction, laughing and screaming.

Moments later Stefan’s long fingers stroked down her cheek. “How are you doing?”

“I’m fine.” She smiled up at him. “Are you always greeted like this?”

BOOK: Eyes to the Soul
13.14Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

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